Soldier (Harvey Andrews song)

In 1971 , Sergeant Michael Willetts of 3 PARA cleared a room in Springfield Road RUC Police Station of civilians because the Provisional IRA had planted a bomb with a short burning fuse.

Sgt Willetts, whose post was actually down a hall, heard the screams; instead of saving himself, he choose to run toward the bomb after shouting orders to another soldier to evacuate upstairs.

As his and other bodies were carried out Irish Republican supporters clapped, jeered, and sang rebel songs to the disbelief of other soldiers and police.

Broadcasts of Andrews' record were banned for some time by the BBC lest feelings be exacerbated in the nationalist community of Northern Ireland, or the British public be incited to attack innocent Irish people.

Years later it was released as a bootleg single by a Loyalist band and I have been told it was sold in pubs and out of car boots at the Glasgow Rangers ground to raise money for paramilitaries.